Cable connecting device



Feb. 17, 1948. G. c. WEBSTER 2,435,989

' CABLE CONNECTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1945 28 GEORGE C. WEBSTER S at Patented Feb. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April so, 1928; 370 o. o. 757) Claims.

This invention relates to cable connecting devices, and more particularly to a cable connecting device for coaxial type cable.

in electrical apparatus, and particularly in high frequency electronic apparatus, it is sometimes the practice to employ coaxial type cables asthe transmission lines for interconnecting the several elements of the apparatus and for connectingthe apparatus to theantenna. Where ,such cables are employed, it is usually necessary to use specially adapted connecting or coupling devices. Heretofore, such connecting or coupling .devices as have been available have for the most ,part been large, complicated, and difiicult to .assemble,.and,,in addition have required sub- I stantial modification or shaping, of the ends of .the coaxial cables with. which they are'to be associated. v An object ofthe present invention is to provide "anew andimproved electrical connecting device,

and particularlya connecting device for coaxial cable. I

A furtherobjectofnthis invention is to provide ,a connccting device for coaxial type cable which will require, a minimum modification of the cable end.

A further object of this invention is to provide aconnecting device forcoaxial cable which is simple to assemble and small relatively to the size of the cable. I w A further object of this invention is to provide a cable connecting device for coaxial type cable .which will provide a good impedance match between thecablesbeing connected.

Qther objects and advantages of the'present [invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:; -Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view, partly in elevation of a cable connecting device constructed in accordance with this inventionfor connecting two coaxial type cables; Fig. 2 is a, longitudinal, sectional view of a cable connecting device constructed in accordancewith this invention for connecting a coaxial type cable toa coaxial type terminal; and

Fig. 3 is a detail, perspective view of the annular wedge employed with the connecting device of this invention. v Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, it will be seen that two substantially identical coaxial type cables 5 and '6, respectively, have been shown connected end on by the coupling device of this invention, The left cable S, as viewed in this drawing, comprises terial 8.

a rod shaped inner conductor 2, which is surrounded by a layer of electrical insulating ma- A tubular outer conductor 9, concentrically disposed with respect to the inner-conductor l, encloses the insulation 8 and is itself enclosed by a sheath It] of electrical insulating material having suitable protective characteristics. Similarly the right cable 6 comprises a rod Y shaped, innerconductor H, a layer of insulation i2, andouter conductor l3, and a protective sheath It. From the foregoing description it will be seen that both cables are of conventional coaxial cable design. Ordinarily, in order to couple two such cables considerable modification of the cable ends is required. For example, one practice is to strip the insulating layers 8 and I2 back a substantial distance to expose the inner conductors and then to strip the sheaths Ill and it back to expose the outer conductors. In order to connect such cables a coupling device comprising a plurality of clamping sleeves may be assembled over the end providing a bulky and complicated coupling. It will be apparent that such modifications of the cable ends are not only relatively difficult, but alsotime consuming. In accordance with the present invention a connecting device for coaxial type cable has been provided which requires substantially no modification of the end of the cable and which is extremely simple and efiicient. In order to facilitate an understanding of the present invention,

1 the description of the connecting device will be incorporated in the description of its assembly on the cable; however, it will be understood that the order in which the several steps in the assembly operation are described is not critical, but is largely a matter of choice.

In order to prepare the cables to be coupled by the connecting device of this invention it is merely necessary to cut the-end to be coupled of each of the two cables transversely with respect "to its axis to provide a substantially fiat end surface on each cable. Then, in accordance with the embodiment of this invention shown in Fig. 1, one end of a sleeve l5 of electrically conductive material, the sleeve having a solid, central portion It, and longitudinall slotted, inwardly tapering end portions H and I8, respectively, extending axially from either side of the central portion i5, is inserted between the layer l2 of insulation and the inner conductor II of the cable 6, the sleeve being inserted as far as feasible. By slotting and tapering the ends of the sleeve, they may be inserted readily in this man her, and when so inserted in both cables, will engage closely the inner conductors of the cables, interconnecting the inner conductors.

In the next step, a large collar 20 is assembled over the end of one of the cables, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, over the right cable 6, an inwardly extending flange 2| ofthe collarbeing placed ofithe cableffi'i'st. Theleft portion of' the collar 'ifiternally recessed ahd th'ei'c'ssdpdrtion thereof is threaded so as to receive and engage a somewhat smaller collar 22, which is 'as=- sembled on the adjacent cable 5 arlater'step and which is externally threaded to threadedly engage the threaded portion of-the collar -20, A number of anti-friction washers 23 are then'assembled over the end of the cable 6, the inner diameters of the washers being such thatthey are freely rotatable about the protective sheath [4 of the cable 6 and thebtiterf'ciainetersbeiiig such that they are receivablewithin 'the' right portion of the collar Ziland will seat against the "meet sideofthefiange "2|. "Afsec'dndcollai' 24, 'havinganfextrnal* diameter" slightly less than v 7 met r of themollar 2015 "men nseited Within thecollariil sotliat'its inwardly {The collar 25 serv s as a housing" for a flat ring If wh v assemb ea'cver' the" i the 'cafile and located between" the fshe'ath "I 4 an the t ee-t t r ""251thiisireenitatmeesfiimgi m p 7 {'Iriioi'der tereta n-the' collar 20 on the jcable 6, and also to interconnect the outer conductors "Flo h i ls; a wedge zrttewsm det ir farid sheath are forcedjor fiaredpu twardly against ftne 'ifjri er'wailbfjthe iiii f '2 5', thus "em gi g, the Ifide jih fil h ered re on .8m h

w epe'r'tares of perforationsfiqinwhich are located solder 3|, or other readily fusible electrically conjjdutirigifiaterial; After thel wdg e'is inserted into heat to pefietg apjereenze, asby touching-this ffjfioftibn with soldering iron, the solder may be cafised tcffuse andi'bpth secure the wedge in ""positiona's' well as insure a satisiactoryelectrical f'connect ion between the wedgeand the outer con- 1 hfc'able 5' i s similarly preparedby positioning 'e'fiatim 32, similar to the-ring'ZS heretofore fd'escribei aboutthe periphery of the right end ftliereof and :withi'n thecollar 22, which is; previdhn eeeb efii s sh wn: Since, ill 'be preierable that the collar with respect to the cable 5, no washermediatcollars"'arej'provided, as is ""dohef withthefc'abl 5. The"fing" '32 is intrn'a'lly """t 'pered stzetahare"intimatelyto the right.

dge'21 he, formed therethrough anumber of" tric'ally conductiye material bi'hdfisprbvided with 'suit'able'apeitures in whichsolder or other fusible lectrically conducting material is disposed, which when heated will melt and secure the wedge to theconductor 9 in the same manner as the wedge 2] is secured to the conductor [3.

-"-'Whi-le'-the"wedges have been shown and described 'as'being located between the outer conductor and intermediate insulation of each cable,

*iris'oI-ne cases it may be desirable to locate the wedges between the outer conductor and the protective sheath. Also it will be apparent that while a tap'ered'wedge has been shown, the taper- I mediate insulation s asiarfasffea'sibl'eh ing is provided primarily to facilitate insertion an consequently ani initaee edwed e they be employed" whereihserti'on of "such a wedge-would diate' ablef'pla'stic materialQ sucHa 5 between the inner conductor l and'thedfiter- "'26 is" m'ovedfio' the" leftto "engage the threadfed portion thereof with the threaded peripl1i ry"bf By rotating the Zioll'ar 'ing the flanges 29 and be apparent that "a tight A con ct het whenprciieH 'ti fil y c.

connection and cc of the two cable flange 35 may be integrally' foi' side of therm gfze as'vi afrnf F1 v 24 and. the right 'ejiiaefthe collar '22. lfi firactlce,

itha's teen cuiiajth'a'ttiiis'eei c i glw i n made 'tion is sh'owiif whereby a'cable'o i baigial type-may than to a coaxial cable. R'ferrfin'g'to it'will be seen that the left enact a e giei cable firot ctivdshath 45 of siiit'abl'e' material cover.

ing the outer conductor. In accordance withthis embodiment-of the present invention, this cable is shown connected to a terminal assembly, designated generally as M, and comprising .a heavy, cylindrical housing 55, having a flange d! integrally formed adjacent the right end thereof, whereby the terminal may be rigidly mounted in an apparatus housingthe flange being slightly spaced from the right end. The portion of the housing to the right of the flange 41 is externally threaded to receive a suitable coupling collar associated with the cable end. The housing 44 serves as the outer conductor of the terminal, while a lead at, associated with the terminal and coaxially mounted with respect to the housing 45, is connected at its right end to a spring terminal of the female typ having a number of concentrically, disposed, longitudinally extending, spring contact fingers 49, as is well known in the art, which are located within the right portion of the housing 45, thus forming the inner conductor. A heavy sleeve 68 formed of electrically insulating material is disposed within the right portion of .thehousing between the inner wall thereof andtheperiphery of the inner conductor 46, andserves to support the inner conductor coaxially withrespect thereto.

In preparing. the end .of the coaxial cable to be connected to this terminal, the outer sheath 43, the outer conductor 32, and the intermediate insulation ll are stripped back a sufficient distance to expose a length of the inner conductor "50 suitable to be received within the terminal contact fingers 49 and to be engaged thereby. A large collar 59 similar to the collar 26 hereinbefore described, is assembled over the left end of the coaxial cable with an inwardly flanged portion El thereof positioned to the right. A number of washers 52, similar to the washers 23, are then assembled between the sheath of the cable and the inner wall of the collar 50, the right washer bearing against the inner side of the flange 5 i. A second collar 53, similar to the collar 24, is then assembled within the collar and a flat ring 54, similar to the ring 26 and having its inner side tapered outwardly to the left, is assembled within the collar 53. The end of the cable is then flared by inserting a sleeve shaped wedge 55, similar to the wedges 27 and 33, between the intermediate insulation ll and the outer conductor e2, this wedge being secured in position on the cable by soldering, as hereinbefore described. A flat annular disc 56 of electrically insulating material, similar to the material of which the disc 35 is made, is then placed over the exposed end or the inner conductor and is selected to have an external diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of the insulation 4|.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by moving the large collar 59 to the left to cause it to engage the threaded periphery of the outer conductor of the terminal, and then threading it tightly thereon, the cable may then be rigidly connected to the terminal and electrical connection effected between the outer conductor 42 and the terminal housing by the wedge 55, the flanged portion of which will bear against the housing, which may be recessed as shown, while the inner conductor 40 is connected to the conductor 5% by the spring fingers G9. The deformable ring 55 and the ring 54 when compressed, by tightening the collar 56 on the terminal, effectively seal the connection.

Where herein the various parts of the invention have been referred to as being located in. the right or left position,it will be understood that this is done solely for the purpose of facilitating description and that the references relate only to the relative positionsof the. parts as shown in the accompanying drawing.

While but two embodimentsof this invention have been shown and described in conjunction with two conductor type coaxial cables, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention and that this invention is equally applicable to single or to multi conductor coaxial type cables.

'The invention shown and described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is: v a T 1. In a connecting device for plural conductor coaxial type cable, a perforated annular wedge of electrically conductive material receivable in an end of said cable and engageable when so received with one of the conductors of said cable, said wedge when received in said cable end causing said cable end to be flared outwardly, and a fusible electrically conductive material associated with the perforations of said wedge for securing said wedge to said conductor and electrically connecting said wedge with said conductor.

In an electrical connecting device for interconnecting coaxial type cables each having an inner conductor, a layer of insulating material thereo-ver, an outer conductor concentrically disposed with respect to said inner conductor, and a sheath of electrical insulating material over said outer conductor, means for inter-connecting the inner conductors of said cables, annular perforated wedging means formed of electrically conductive material receivable in the end of each cable and engageable with the outer conductor of each cable for causing the end of each cable to be flared outwardly, and a fusible electrically conductive material associated with the perforations of said wedging means for securing and electrically connecting said wedging means to said outer conductors, said wedging means being brought into mutual engagement to inter-connect the outer conductors of said cables.

3. In an electrical connecting device for interconnecting coaxial type cables, each having an inner conductor, a layer of insulating material thereover, an outer conductor concentrically d1sposed with respect to said inner conductor, and a sheath of electrically insulating material over said outer conductor, means for inter-connecting the inner conductors of said cables, wedging means of electrically conductive material receivable in the end of each cable and engageable with the outer conductor of each cable for causing the end of each cable to be flared outwardly, and means associated with said cables and retained thereon by said outwardly flared ends for mechanically coupling said cables together and causing said wedging means to be engaged to interconnect the outer conductors of said cables.

4. A device for connecting the ends of two coaxial cables having inner conductors, layers of insulation over said inner conductors, concentrically disposed outward conductors, and sheaths of electrically insulating material over said outer conductors, comprising a sleeve shaped member formed of electrically conductive material and having inwardly tapering ends, one of said ends 

